Oil and gas separator for oil wells



Oct. 19 1926.

A. H. CARNES OIL AND GAS SEPARATOR FOR OIL ,WELLS Filed April 17, 1925 L JE.

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gru/wanton .I-I [a1-'nas 30 by the lines 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4-4: of Figure 1.

Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED sTATi-:s

ALFRED H. CARNES., OF OKEMAH, OKLAHOMA,

ASSIGNOB, BY MSNE ASSIGNMENTS,

OF ONE-SIXTEENTH. TO C. M. SHUGERT, OF OKEMAH, OKLAHOMA.

OIL AND GAS SEPARATOR FOR OIL -WELLS.

Application filed April 17, 1925. Serial No. 23,875.

The object of the invention is to provide a device tor use in connection with various pumping outfits 'for oil wells which will prevent the entrance of gas into the pump u and tubing and therefore eradicate the troubles caused by the presence Lot` gas, such as the prevention of the seating of the pump valves, thus preventing the pump from readily taking in a lull charge of oil upon each lo suction stroke; to provide a construction in which there is always an ample supply of oil 'tor the pump, so that on the suction strokes the edectoi the pull may not be communicated to the walls of the well with the consequent erosion of the oil sand and emulsitication oit the oil; and to provide a construction ,of the above mentioned character which is of simple form and therefore inexpensive to manufacture.

With his object in view, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts ot whch a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of one torm of structure embodying the invention.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are respectively transverse sectional views on the planes indicated The outer casing 1 is of materia y increased cross section as compared with the intermediate tube or casing 2 which it surrounds and to -which it is connected at its lower end which is conical by interior threads 3 which engage exterior threads on the in-` termediate casing. The intermediate tube or casing lprotrudes, below the exterior casing, receiving a coupling or collar 4: in the lower end of which is engaged a plug 5 connected with the collar by exterior threads which engage the interior threads in the collar. The intermediate tube or casing is provided with a plurality of perforations 9 arranged in vertical series uniformly spaced around its periphery, the lowermost units of these series being above the plane o the lower end of ari inner fluid tube 8 disposed centrally in the intermediate tube or casing. l

.The upper end 10 of the outer casin is of the conical form shown and is provide with 'a plurality of openings 10". The intermediate tube or casing extends beyond theupper end of the outer casing and threads into a collar or coupling 11 with which a-plug 12 ing 1 to a point near the bottom of connects, this plug being designed for connecting the device to the working barrel of an oilpumping apparatus, in which working barrel (not shown) the usual standing valve is disposed directly above the plug. The inner fluid tube, which is open at its lower end, extends into the plug 12,'as at 13, being 4rictionally or otherw1se secured to the plug.

The outer casing 1 is of smaller diameterv thart the drilled well and when lowered into the latter, a space intervenes between it and the walls of the well. Thus, the, gas may readily rise between the device and the walls of the well to pass out :trom the well through the well cap in the gas pipes connected with the cap. rThe oil, however, passes into the outer casing through the openings 10@L at the top of the latter and, reaching the level ot the perforations 9, enters the inner tube or casing 8, rising in the duid tube 8 which it enters through the open bottom end ot the latter. The continued entrance of oil into the outer casing finally fills the fluid tube 8 and the intermediate and outer casings and when the pumping operation starts, the oil is taken from the fluid tube 8 through the working barrel to the surface, the gas at the same time passing to the top of the well between the walls of the latter and the separator and the working barrel. The path of the oil being from the top of the outer casthe .intermediate casing 9 and then to the bottom ot the tluid tube 8, povides a cicuitous path and always leaves a Huid tra which will preclude the entrance of gas into the tluid tube 8. Also, the walls of the'well will be freed from the eilects of the suction strokes of the pump,

since lthe separator will always conas tain a volume ot' oil for response to the operation of the Ypump.

Should the oil producing strata' fail at an time to supply suiicient o1l to completely "l several tubes, the continued operation .of the pump will-reduce the level oi the oil to the plane of the uppermost of the perforations 9 with which the fluid tube is suppled. The pump can then no longer eiect any littling operation of the contents ofthe separa- .05 tor, since the vent or perforation 14 will function with the result that air only will be' displaced, being admitted to the fluid tube through the o enings 10", the exposedy perorations 9 an the vent 14. Thus it is imy110 possible, by reason of the provision of the vent or perforation 14, to completely empty the separator of oil in the event of failure of the supply or of failure to flow steadily through the openings 10. The device, therefore, having once been filled with oil, will always contain a certain amount which functions as a trap that will effectively prevent the entrance of gas into the pipe 8 and thence to the working barrel. n

.It will be noted that the combined area of the several openings'lOEt and the combined area of the perforations or openings 9 is greater than the cross sectional area and therefore the inlet end of the pipe 8. Thus, means is provided for making the supply to the separator in excess of the quantity re moved therefrom. i

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

l. An oil and gas separator comprising a casing constituting an oil chamber, a second casing disposed within the first and having series of perforations arranged at an intermediate point in its height to effect communication interiorly between it and the outer easing, and a fluid tube extending into the intermediate casing and. having an open lower end, the Huid tube extending below the plane of the lowermost of the perforations in t e upper end being provided with a plurality of fluid. tube second casing and the outer casing at its oil inlet openings, the combined area of which exceeds the cross-sectional area of the open lower end of the Huid tube.

2. An oil and gas separator comprising a casing constituting an oil chamber, a second casing disposed within the first and interiorly in communication with the latter through series of perorations, and a :fluid tube within the second casing and having an inlet below the plane of said perforations, the outer casing having an inlet above the plane of said perforations, the combined area of said perforations exceeding the area of the inlet of the fluid tube and the area of the inlet of the outer casing exceeding the area of the inlet of the Huid tube.

3. An oil and gas separator comprising a casing constituting an oil chamber, a second casing disposed within the first and in communication with the latter atan intermediate point in its height, and la iluid tube extending into the intermediate casing and having an intake below the point of communication between the first and second casings, the first casing havin an inlet above said point of cominunicatin and the area of said inlet being in excess of the area of the intake of the In testimony whereof he axes his signature.

ALFRED n. cannes.,

SID 

